In these two delightful history-mysteries, seven boys in Ancient Rome solve strange crimes . . . thanks to some help from their cranky teacher, a l...
read full description
reviews
Mar 13, 2010
Miranda*Ivashkov*Malfoy♥(ilytomafelton)♥
rated it: 
this was also a reading assingnment in my reading class, it was cute i accually really liked it.
Who would expect to arrive at school and find the teacher bound and gagged and stuffed in the wardrobe? That's just what Mucius, Antonius, and three other young Romans discover one morning. Though the room is in shambles, the only stolen articles are a few mathematical textbooks and a wax writing tablet on which their friend Rufus, angry with another schoolmate, had written the previ More...
Who would expect to arrive at school and find the teacher bound and gagged and stuffed in the wardrobe? That's just what Mucius, Antonius, and three other young Romans discover one morning. Though the room is in shambles, the only stolen articles are a few mathematical textbooks and a wax writing tablet on which their friend Rufus, angry with another schoolmate, had written the previ More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 23, 2011
Haley
rated it:
I love this book! It is SO cute!It is a story about a young Roman boy named Rufus. Rufus did say that CAIUS IS A DUMBELL. But he did NOT break into the schoolroom and tie up his teacher and certainly did NOT paint CAIUS IS A DUMBELL on the temple wall. Still he is blamed for it and his freinds must help him by finding the REAL bad guy and soon!
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 06, 2007
I haven't read this since I was 11, tops, but it's still a delight. I love how dorky all the boys are. The best part is that I honestly can't remember a lick of the mystery. However, I remember the illustrations vividly. Hella appealling.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jun 19, 2008
Theresa
rated it: 
We have read this before. It is a funny mystery about a group of roman boys who set out to absolve one of their classmates from a crime he didn't commit. The boys are very cute and funny and it's a joy to read.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
May 27, 2010
Lori
rated it: 
This book cleverly weaves details about life in the Roman Empire into a kid-friendly mystery.
Personally, I did not find the story all that interesting, but I will say that my 9 and 7 year-olds frequently asked me to keep reading when I intended to stop. Despite their interest, I think they were still too young to really keep track of the twists and turns in the story, and to figure out the implication of each.
There is also a fairly gruesome death at the end which, si More...
Personally, I did not find the story all that interesting, but I will say that my 9 and 7 year-olds frequently asked me to keep reading when I intended to stop. Despite their interest, I think they were still too young to really keep track of the twists and turns in the story, and to figure out the implication of each.
There is also a fairly gruesome death at the end which, si More...
Jan 06, 2011
Callie
rated it:
I don't know about all of you, but one of my many aspirations for life, along with becoming a pro race car water girl, and learning how to make ice cream is to become a detective. But ice cream, how do they even make that stuff?! But back to the point. I was really inspired by the detectives in togas. You see, I am full grecian, and I really fe3lt like I was close to my roots when I was reading this book and that my Nana Adrasteia was saying to me just like old times, "When I was growing up
More...
Jun 16, 2009
Mohamed
rated it:
a class clown named rufus was annoyed by a boy named caius so rufus was mad then he wrote "caius is a dumbbell" then when caius seen that they both got into a fight so they kicked rufus out of xanthos school. when the boys were walking they found the words "caius is a dumbbell" on a temples wall then they thought it was rufus then when caius' dad seen that he asked caius who wrote this then caius answere "rufus" then when rufus was arrested they had to proove that r
More...
Dec 03, 2009
Julio
rated it:
i liked this book so much that i actually read it twice. Its so very interesting as these kids try to solve a case that gets involved with copying someones handwriting to get them in trouble and its kind of funny since its like in the back when they used stones and rocks to inscribe words on stones. In the end they catch the culprit and it kind of ends the way it started because they started in school making trouble and it ends in school with the same kids but instead the teacher likes them now.
More...
Apr 23, 2011
Kim
rated it: 
I read this book aloud to my kids who are studying Ancient Rome. It was an excellent enhancement to their study since they love mysteries and were very interesting in the setting of the book. At the end of each chapter, they begged for "more", the sign of an enjoyable book. As an adult reading the book, I didn't find the mystery to be very riveting and it was rather predictbale and difficult to follow at times. The characters were rather "flat." My son thinks this book d
More...
Jan 04, 2009
I adore this book. Its what first got me interested in Ancient Rome. I read it for a novel study around the time that I started Latin, and I was hooked.
The boy detectives are dorky and hilarious. Antonius particularly provided comic relief. The end was slightly predictable, but I loved it. ex-Consul Tellus, alias Lukus the soothsayer, was brilliant.
All in all, a ginger peachy book.
The boy detectives are dorky and hilarious. Antonius particularly provided comic relief. The end was slightly predictable, but I loved it. ex-Consul Tellus, alias Lukus the soothsayer, was brilliant.
All in all, a ginger peachy book.
Jan 11, 2011
I read this book near the end of the sixth grade, and I absolutely loved it. It's not one of those fully blown out mystery books, but it's humorous, and all of the characters fit in perfectly. You also have no idea who the culprit is, literally. You think you do, but your still not sure. It's an excellent book to read for fun.
Nov 13, 2009
Suzie
rated it:
I just finished reading this to the girls. What a great book! A mystery set in Ancient Rome where a school boy is accused of desecrating a temple. His school friends and teacher help to find out who really committed the crime. It is humorous and a good mystery at the same time. The girls wanted me to keep reading chapter after chapter until we found out who did it.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 26, 2011
Harle
rated it:
I think the first time I read this I read it too fast, and as a result didn't have any clue of what was going on.
...Since I've learned to slow down my reading some, I found that this is a good book with a nice plot. It did get to be a bit of a drag in some parts, but overall it kept me entertained.
...Since I've learned to slow down my reading some, I found that this is a good book with a nice plot. It did get to be a bit of a drag in some parts, but overall it kept me entertained.
Mar 24, 2009
Denae
rated it:
An amazing read and nice insight to the Roman/Greek world of rich boys many years ago, and what they'd do in crisis.
Some things are just too indescribable. "Caius is a dumbell." Is the phrase that really set the whole plot going, and it's how the book ends.
Some things are just too indescribable. "Caius is a dumbell." Is the phrase that really set the whole plot going, and it's how the book ends.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
May 05, 2010
Kimmy
rated it:
I read this to my girls while we were doing a unit study on Rome. They loved the historical mystery, and thought there were many funny parts. I loved how the author casually intertwined roman politics, customs, and history into this delightful story.
Jan 31, 2012
Truly awful school-read. the way it is either translated or written in french is terrible, by that i mean that the words and phrases do not make you wnat to continue reading, awful. i haven't finished it but i still will give it a 1 star when i do.
Oct 01, 2009
Sara
rated it:
Read this with the boys. It was pretty good. Mystery during the Roman era with schoolboys solving the crime. Some good historical info and some good logic to follow. I probably wouldn't have read it if we weren't studying this era.
Nov 09, 2010
Amy
rated it:
This was a fun family read to go along with History. I don't think it taught the kids a lick of History, but it was a funny mystery.
Carson and Avery would give it 5 stars.
Collin and I give it 3 stars. So 4 stars it is.
Carson and Avery would give it 5 stars.
Collin and I give it 3 stars. So 4 stars it is.
Jun 07, 2009
Fiorella
rated it:
It was weird. I did not really like it. But you might, though. I don't like it because it was a story taking place in ANCIENT ROME... I really don't like reading stories that take place in ancient times...I'm modern!
Jan 21, 2012
Megan
rated it:
I read this charmingly funny book approximately a million times when I was in elementary & middle school, and I spent many hours daydreamingly Mary Sue-ing myself into the world. I wish I still had my copy!
Jul 21, 2008
Cheryl
rated it:
This delightful mystery set in the time of ancient Rome gives in depth details of the life of a Roman without your child realizing they are reading about historical culture!! It has all the elements of a good book - suspenseful mystery, vivid imagery, intriguing characters, humor, friendship, enemies, and danger.
Young students of a Greek schoolteacher have an argument that culminates with a mean statement written on a student's wax tablet. When that same statement is found written in More...
Young students of a Greek schoolteacher have an argument that culminates with a mean statement written on a student's wax tablet. When that same statement is found written in More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 11, 2010
Anne
rated it:
In Grade 4, my teacher read this book to us. And when the book was finished, we begged her to start over. Then we all took turns signing it out from the school library.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jun 03, 2010
Kelley
rated it:
Five stars only because the boys loved it--they would beg me to keep reading. It wasn't my favorite "read-aloud" of the year.
Mar 03, 2009
Hannah
rated it:
lol this was a cool book it was realy boring in the begining but then it got juicy and i found myself craving more!!!
May 05, 2009
Gwen
rated it:
Exciting detective mystery set in ancient Rome. Wonderful read-aloud for 8-12 year old boys! Girls might love it too.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jun 09, 2010
Ashley Rea
rated it:
I have it at home. Read it in 6th grade english class. ( stole it and broght it home beacuse it was soo good)
Mar 14, 2011
Ron
rated it:
Fun romp through Rome in the company of 6 boys who have to get their classmate out of prison.
Aug 13, 2009
Legume
rated it:
A fun book that teaches Roman history and culture while telling a mystery story.
Apr 28, 2011
Karen
rated it:
Read this with the kids for our Classical home school curriculum. Just fun!
Jun 11, 2010
shelved it when I realised that their is a death at the end.In a few years maybe.Right now for my seven yearold- No
